Barbara Strozzilaan 336
1083 HN Amsterdam
The Netherlands
gssbsecretariat@globalreporting.org

Item 01 – Draft summary of the GSSB
meeting held on 22 October 2020
For GSSB approval
Date

6 November 2020

Meeting

19 November 2020

Description This document presents the summary of the GSSB virtual meeting held on 22October 2020.

This document has been prepared by the GRI Standards Division and is made available to observers
at meetings of the Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB). It does not represent an official
position of the GSSB. Board positions are set out in the GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards. TheGSSB is the independent standard setting body of GRI. For more information visit
www.globalreporting.org.
© GRI 2020

1Contents
2 Participants ............................................................................................................................................................. 3
3 List of abbreviations ............................................................................................................................................. 3
4 Decisions and action items ................................................................................................................................. 4
5 Sessions 1 & 2: Private sessions ........................................................................................................................ 4
6 Session 3: Welcome............................................................................................................................................. 4
7 Session 4: GSSB Work Program 2020-2022 update .................................................................................... 5
8 Session 5: GRI Universal Standards update....................................................................................................79 Session 6: GRI Sector Standards Project for Oil, Gas, and Coal update ................................................ 7
10 Session 7: Any other business and close of meeting ................................................................................... 7Page 2 of 7

2Participants

3

Present:

456NameConstituency

Judy Kuszewski
Robyn Leeson
Loredana Carta
Peter Colley
Evan Harvey
Kirsten Margrethe Hovi
Vincent Kong
Joseph Martin
Tung-Li (Tony) Mo
Jennifer Princing
Gustavo Sinner
Kenton Swift
Michel Washer

Chair
Vice-Chair
Labor
Labor
Investment institution
Business enterpriseBusiness enterpriseBusiness enterprise
Civil society organization
Business enterpriseMediating institution
Civil society organization
Business enterprise

Apologies:
NameConstituency

Corli le Roux
Rama Krishnan Venkateswaran

Mediating institution
Investment institution

In attendance from the Standards Division:
NamePosition

Bastian Buck
Laura EspinachMia d’Adhemar
Anna Krotova
Miguel Pérez Ludeña
Veronica Wachong
Gillian Balaban

Chief of Standards
Head of Technical Development
Senior Manager Sector Program
Senior Manager
Research Lead Sector Program
Senior Coordinator Sector Program
Team Assistant

List of abbreviations
GSSBSD

Global Sustainability Standards Board
Standards Division

Page 3 of 77Decisions and action items8Decisions

910GSSB Decision 2020.19 The GSSB resolved to approve Item 01 – Draft summary of the GSSB
meeting held on 15 September 2020.

1112GSSB Decision 2020.20 The GSSB resolved to approve Item 04 – GRI Sector Standards Projectfor Oil, Gas, and Coal – Proposed member for working group.

13Action items
GSSBSession 4•GSSB to provide feedback on Item 02 – GRI Sector Standards
Program – Revised list of prioritized sectors and Item 03 – GSSBWork Program 2020-2022 to the SD by email by close ofbusiness 30 October 2020.

•SD to take GSSB feedback under advisement and present the listof prioritized sectors, incorporating this feedback, for GSSBapproval at its meeting on 19 November.
SD to present the Work Program 2020-2022 for GSSB approvalat its meeting on 19 November.

Standards Division
Session 4•

14

Sessions 1 & 2: Private sessions

15

These were private sessions.

16

Session 3: Welcome

17
18

The GSSB was presented with Item 01 – Draft summary of the GSSB meeting held on 15 September
2020 for approval.

1920GSSB Chair Judy Kuszewski (henceforth the Chair) welcomed the GSSB and presented an overviewof the meeting agenda.

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212223

A GSSB member asked whether the timeline for the agriculture and fishing project would bepresented at a future meeting, as it was mentioned as an Action item in the summary but was notincluded in the present meeting agenda.

24
25

The Standards Division confirmed that the timeline for the agriculture and fishing project would bepresented at a subsequent meeting.

2627

GSSB Decision 2020.19 The GSSB resolved to approve Item 01 – Draft summary of the GSSBmeeting held on 15 September 2020.

Session 4: GSSB Work Program 202029
2022 update
2830
31

The GSSB was presented with Item 02 – GRI Sector Standards Program – Revised list of prioritized
sectors for approval and Item 03 – GSSB Work Program 2020-2022 for information.

32

Proposed list of prioritized sectors

33
34
35

The SD presented a list ranking the priority of projects to be covered under the Sector Program,including a list of top 10 sectors to be prioritized for development next, following the first two pilot
projects on oil, gas, and coal, and agriculture and fishing that are currently underway.

36
37

A GSSB member called attention to the growing importance of artificial intelligence (AI) acrosssectors and questioned whether IT and services should be in group 3 of the prioritization.

3839404142

The Chair confirmed the GSSB’s ambition to be forward-thinking, and suggested that AI can beaddressed at a topic level alongside the Sector Program. The SD pointed out that while the chief
criteria used to prioritize sectors are impacts on sustainable development and feasibility of producing
the Standard, the ranking is flexible and may alter over time in response to such needs anddevelopments.

434445464748

A GSSB member noted that the number of companies wishing to report in each sector is also arelevant factor in assigning priority, as that affects impact. The SD replied that sectors with most GRI
reporting already feature in the top 10 priority sectors for development, and that information onuptake will be taken into account in prioritization for future projects. However, the SD also notedthat current uptake figures should be considered with caution, as report registration numbers arenot complete.

495051525354

A GSSB member pointed to certain inconsistencies between the top ten priority sectors and theannex (rubber is included with forestry in the top 10 sectors, but is included in the scope of theagriculture and fishing sector in the annex). The GSSB member also commented on connections andsynergies between sectors (such as both agriculture and forestry being foundational for textiles, orthe connection between infrastructure and construction), and noted that more such connections
could emerge over the course of the projects and inform the ordering of the sectors.

555657

Another GSSB member requested information on why mining and metals have been split into
separate sectors, why only iron and aluminum are included as metals in the list, and whether thefocus will fall on downstream activities and recycling, in addition to primary activities.

5859

The SD explained that the current distinction between the manufacturing and extractive parts of theindustry is aimed to better capture impacts on sustainable development, and the criteria to include
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60
61
62

iron, aluminum, and steel is based on standard industry practice and the way these companies areorganized. The SD clarified that borders between sectors can be refined as work progresses. The
activities covered under the sectors remain to be scoped out.

63
64

The SD will take GSSB feedback under advisement and present the list of prioritized sectors,
incorporating this feedback, for GSSB approval at a subsequent meeting.

65

Overview of revised work program for 2020-2022

66
67
68
69

The Standards Division (SD) presented an update of its revised work program for 2020-2022,
focusing on the proposal for 2021. The SD drew attention to a new preamble to the work program
highlighting the role the GSSB can play in forming a single coherent global set of sustainability
standards.

70
71
72

A GSSB member asked for clarification on whether the focus on a harmonization of standards in thepreamble was a signal to other organizations that the GSSB sees its work to be in integrating GRI
Standards with others.

73
74

The Chair confirmed this to be the case and highlighted the role the GSSB can play in the practicalaspects of harmonization of standards.

75
76
77

A GSSB member commented on the discrepancy between what the GSSB aspires to achieve withthe work program and what budget constraints allow, and hoped that a renewed focus on funding
would address this.

787980The SD requested the GSSB to provide any further comments on the work program by email to theSD by close of business 30 October 2020, in time to finalize the document before the GSSB meetingon 19 November.

81

Actions:

82
83
84
85
86
87
88

•
•
•

GSSB to provide feedback on Item 02 – GRI Sector Standards Program – Revised list ofprioritized sectors and Item 03 – GSSB Work Program 2020-2022 to the SD by email byclose of business 30 October 2020.
SD to take GSSB feedback under advisement and present the list of prioritized sectors,
incorporating this feedback, for GSSB approval at its meeting on 19 November.
SD to present the Work Program 2020-2022 for GSSB approval at its meeting on 19November.

Session 5: GRI Universal Standards Project90
update
89

91
92
93
94
95
96

The SD presented an overview of the public comment submissions on the Universal Standards
exposure draft, including an overview of respondents and key themes. The key themes covered inthe responses include the revised concepts of ‘material topic’ and ‘stakeholder’, the process for
identifying material topics, the reporting model and statements of use, and revisions relating toSector Standards and governance disclosures. The SD also explained the methodology involved inanalysis of the feedback.

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9798
99

The SD presented a schedule for a series of more detailed, theme-specific discussions to be heldwith the GSSB through November and December on revisions to the Universal Standards following
the public comment.

Session 6: GRI Sector Standards Project101
for Oil, Gas, and Coal update100102
103
104105
106
107
108
109

The SD presented an update of its activities under the Sector Standards Project for Oil, Gas, andCoal. This included an overview of the public comments on the Oil and Gas exposure draft. The SD
reiterated that the public comment period had the dual purpose of eliciting feedback on theexposure draft as a template for all Sector Standards, as well as on the oil and gas content
specifically. The overview presented by the SD referred to themes that applied to Sector Standards
in general; submissions relating specifically to oil and gas will be presented at a later date. Themes
covered included implementation approach, usability, mandatory reporting, and the requirement tocomply with or explain why a topic is not material.

110
111

The SD presented the timeline for revision of the Oil and Gas Standard, and for developing anexposure draft for coal.

112

Approval of proposed member for Oil, Gas, and Coal Project working group

113
114

The GSSB was presented with Item 04 – GRI Sector Standards Project for Oil, Gas, and Coal –Proposed member for working group for approval.

115
116

The Chair called for comments or questions regarding the proposal. No comments or concerns
were raised. The GSSB approved the proposed member by consensus.

117
118

GSSB Decision 2020.20 The GSSB resolved to approve Item 04 – GRI Sector Standards Projectfor Oil, Gas, and Coal – Proposed member for working group.

Session 7: Any other business and close of120
meeting
119

121
122

No other business was raised and the Chair closed the meeting at 15:01 CEST (Central EuropeanSummer Time).

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